The Royal Veterinary College studied nearly 500,000 German Shepherds in 2013 and concluded that many are dying from musculoskeletal problems. Too many breeders are breeding for cosmetic traits such as lower hindquarters and sloping backs resulting in the deaths of one in six. Of course, German Shepherds are not the only breed to have suffered from such selective breeding: other breeds can't breathe or give birth naturally, for example. This is where the Kennel Club should step in .... but doesn't. Temperament should be everything in any breed - not looks.